Austria should demand the extradition of murder suspect sheltered by Russia

In a letter sent today to the Federal Minister of Justice in Austria Dr. Beatrix Karl, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, together
with Human Rights Watch, Civil Rights Defenders, Austrian Helsinki Association, European Center for Constitutional and Human
Rights, and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), urges the Austrian government to request the extradition of
Lecha Bogatyrov from the Russian Federation. Lecha Bogatyrov is the man who allegedly fired the fatal shots that killed the
Chechen exile Umar Israilov on the streets of Vienna in January 2009. Three men were convicted 1 June 2011 by the Vienna Landesgericht
to long prison sentences for the killing of Israilov, but the current current impunity for Mr. Israilov’s alleged killer should
be treated as a political issue by the Austrian government.

Austria should demand the extradition of murder suspect sheltered by Russia

Dear Dr. Karl,

(Berlin, London, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna 6 June, 2012.) 1 June 2011, a year ago last week, three men were convicted
by the Vienna Landesgericht to long prison sentences for the killing of Chechen exile Umar Israilov, who was shot on the streets
of Vienna in January 2009. The deed was carried out “on behalf of a foreign power”, according to the Austrian court.

Israilov was a critic of the Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, whom he claimed was personally responsible for numerous crimes,
including torture and murder. Israilov had lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, despite
having received numerous threats. The killing was one of several murders of rivals and critics of Russian and Chechen authorities
outside of Russia.

The three men of Chechen origin had links to Chechen authorities, including President Kadyrov himself, and were convicted
of killing Israilov during a botched attempt to kidnap him. The decision of the Austrian court was made possible by meticulous
work of the Austrian police and investigators, and represents a milestone in the decade-long effort to end impunity connected
to the conflict in Chechnya.

Yet the man who allegedly fired the fatal shots, Russian national Lecha Bogatyrov, a former member of a Chechen paramilitary
force loyal to Russian authorities, remains a fugitive of justice. Moreover, Mr. Bogatyrov appears to enjoy a high standing
with Chechen and Russian authorities. He was reportedly appointed chief of a special police unit in a Chechen village on his
return from Austria. A request by the Austrian court to interview as witnesses him and four other Chechens connected to the
murder trial, including Mr. Kadyrov, has not been answered by the Russian justice authorities.

Austrian authorities should not passively stand by this apparently deliberate attempt at obstructing justice by Russian authorities.
The undersigned organizations have worked with documenting human rights abuses and crimes against humanity in Chechnya, and
monitored the Israilov trial as it unfolded. In our view, the Israilov trial is among the most important human rights cases
in Europe of the last years.

Even though the Austrian court decision was a milestone, the Israilov case is not finished as long as a key suspect remains
at large and the many questions as to who ordered, commissioned, funded, aided and abetted the killing are unanswered. We
therefore urge you, as the highest political authority of the Austrian justice system, to request the extradition of Mr. Lecha
Bogatyrov from the Russian Federation.

Although Austria does not have an extradition treaty with Russia, the Austrian government has numerous bilateral dealings
with Russia, and Russia is a member of the Council of Europe, an organization committed to rule of law and human rights. The
current impunity for Mr. Israilov’s alleged killer should be treated as a political issue, and we urge you to engage in this
matter.

Sincerely yours,

Joachim Frank Robert Hardh

Chair Executive
Director

Austrian Helsinki Association Civil Rights Defenders

Wolfgang Kaleck Hugh Williamson

General Secretary Director of Europe/Central
Asia Div.

European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights Human Rights Watch